Method and apparatus to mount a medical imaging antenna to a flexible substrate

A method for assembling a flexible coil for medical imaging, the method comprising the steps of:

• creating a plurality of holes through a flexible substrate;
• positioning at least one antenna on the flexible substrate, wherein the at least one antenna is operative to receive a signal corresponding to an anatomical region of a patient during medical imaging;
• inserting a plurality of fasteners through the flexible substrate, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners includes:
• a first side portion, configured to extend through a first hole in the flexible substrate;
• a second side portion, configured to extend through a second hole in the flexible substrate;
• and
• a middle segment extending between the first and second side portions;
• and
• retaining the at least one antenna to the flexible substrate with the middle segment of each of the plurality of fasteners.

A flexible coil for medical imaging, the flexible coil comprising:

• a flexible substrate including a plurality of holes extending therethrough;
• at least one antenna operative to receive a signal corresponding to an anatomical region of a patient during medical imaging;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners, wherein each fastener includes:
• a first side portion including a first upper segment, a first lower segment, and a first rear segment, the first rear segment extending between the first upper segment and the first lower segment;
• a second side portion including a second upper segment, a second lower segment, and a second rear segment, the second rear segment extending between the second upper segment and the second lower segment;
• and
• a middle portion extending between the first and second side portions, wherein:
• the first and second rear segments are each configured to extend through one of the plurality of holes in the flexible substrate,
• the first upper segment, the first lower segment, and the first rear segment define a first channel configured to receive the flexible substrate, and
• the second upper segment, the second lower segment, and the second rear segment define a second channel configured to receive the flexible substrate.